Page 131 - COVID-19 Inpatient Training Resources

Preparation of Deceased Persons Tip Sheet

• Ensure Next of Kin (NOK) contact information is in patient's chart
• If Funeral Home (FH) information is communicated to care team, make sure it
is documented
• Make referral to Spiritual Care who will contact family to explore/facilitate faith-
Prior to Death based and/or cultural rituals as appropriate

•If patient is actively dying, inform NOK (visitor restrictions continue to apply at this time
unless otherwise noted/arranged)
•If patient wearing jewellery, ask NOK if they want the jewellery: if yes, remove & clean
with bleach wipes (check pockets, if any) and place in biohazard bag
•Take inventory of all belongings- "Patient Belongings Note v3.0" on Sunrise, print note
and get a co-signature (2 staff to sign), then place in green bag with belongings, wipe bag
with bleach wipes, double bag outside of room with a clean buddy and label bag with
patient ID sticker; if COVID-19 PUI/confirmed: green COVID-19 sticker is to be placed on
Death Occurs: bag as well; Bed Booking to arrange belongings pick up from Morgue with NOK
Notifications & •Once patient expires: call MRP, NP, or ED Internist as appropriate and inform Spiritual
Belongings Care of death
•Have MRP or delegate fill out Death Certificate as soon as possible
•NOTE: the EDR Form has been DISCONTINUED (no longer being used)
•Inform Trillium Gift of Life (TGLN) as per routine practices within 1 hour of expiration

•PPE required for shrouding: mask, face shield, gown, gloves
•If COVID-19 PUI/confirmed and aerosol generating procedure was performed recently,
continue to wear your N95
•For all COVID-19 PUI/confirmed patients: Leave ALL items on body in place (do not remove
any catheters, drains, IVs, clothing, etc.) - remove jewellery only if family wishes to keep it and
clean as above and place with belongings, if any (check pockets)
•For all non-COVID-19 patients: remove all catheters, tubes, drains, IVs, etc. as per usual
processes
•Ensure ID band is on patient; place toe tag on patient (if COVID-19 PUI/confirmed: place a
green COVID-19 sticker on tag as well as identifying info)
Death Occurs: •Shroud body and transfer to stretcher - use bleach wipes to clean the outside of the body bag
Shrouding & before exiting room; if COVID-19 PUI/confirmed: green COVID-19 sticker is to be placed on
Transport to Morgue the identification tag outside of the bag in addition to identification information
•If no NOK, belongings are to be placed inside the shroud bag with the expired patient
•Before transport to Morgue: transporter to wipe shroud bag again outside of room
•PPE required for transport to morgue: gown, gloves, universal masking

For COVID-19 PUI/positive patients ONLY: porters available 24/7 for transport to morgue.
1 clinical staff member (nurse, HCA) must accompany porter during the transfer as per usual
process.

For non-COVID-19 PUI/positive patients, 2 clinical staff members to transfer to morgue.
There are no porters available for non-COVID-19 patients.

Have questions? Contact your Team Leader, APCE, or PCM.
Have questions after-hours? Contact After-Hours Supervisor.